Abstract
This work is focused on nucleation stages during isothermal austenite decomposition in two medium carbon Vanadium Ti / Ti free micro alloyed steels. Isothermal treatment was carried out in the temperature range 350 to 600οC. Metallographic evaluation using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) enabled determination of the nucleation onset phases of isothermally decomposed austenite. Mainly three phases are found to be relevant to this initiation stage of transformation: first is related to grain boundary nucleated ferrite (GBF), second is related to intra-granularly nucleated ferrite (IGF) and the third to pearlite (P). GBF and IGF are divided into the high temperature and the low temperature segments as consequence of either displacive or diffusion nature of transformation. Addition of titanium to V – micro alloyed steel in this work seems to be balanced by a slightly higher C and Mn content, leading to limited effect on nucleation stage of austenite decomposition. The results show that during continuous cooling, onset of pearlite phase can take place. It occurs at temperatures ≥ 500 C ° , followed by an incomplete reaction phenomenon. The main characteristics of pearlite is always nucleated on the surface between proeutectoid ferrite and austenite. Incubation time for onset of pearlite decrease with decrease of temperature.